CHARLES.
Believe me, Dr. Bartlett has convinced me, we should be miserable, if God always gave us what we desire. And, dear sister, is our pleasure for a day to be compared with the good that so many will experience from the rain?
EMILIA.
But the poor birds, I pity them.
CHARLES.
They will take shelter if it is troublesome to them. Besides, their feathers have a kind of oil in them, which hinders them from being wet.
As it did not seem likely to clear up, we seized the first moment, between the showers, and hastened home. Charles gave his sister his canary-bird, and she went to provide a cage for it. We diverted ourselves; but Edward was out of humour; complained of the weather, and tormented his poor dog.
WILLIAM.
LETTER XXXVI.
William to his Mother.
I cannot forbear relating to you, my dear mother, what happened here last night. We had scarcely been in bed half an hour, before we heard a dreadful noise. What is that, said Charles? I do not know, answered I, but I am afraid somebody is breaking into the house. We listened, and the moment after heard Edward cry out. Charles jumped immediately out of bed, and I followed him; he caught up the poker and the candle, and lighted it at the lamp on the staircase. We almost flew to Edward’s room, where the noise came from. Charles shewed not the least sign of fear; but I could not help trembling exceedingly. Coming into Edward’s chamber we found him lying on the ground, and the table fallen topsy turvy, and all the books and things on the floor. What has happened? asked Charles. Heaven knows; but I am terribly frightened, replied Edward. We both eagerly enquired how he came on the ground, and why he had cried out so dreadfully?